Gage-inspecting device.



Wu F. WARDEN. GAGE INSPBGTING DEVISE. APPLLOATXON HLBD 00T. 9` 1911.

Patented Jaml, 1912.

NVENTQ hm y ,i VWILLIAM F. WARDEN, F AKRON, OHIO,

device convenient of access for ready ob- UNrrED sfrafrns lgiirnnfr OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR T0 PERRY E. TANNER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

GAGE-INSPECTING DEVICE.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16,1912.

Application led October 9. 1911. Serial No. 653,745.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that'l, immun F. VAHDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing `at Akron, in the county ot' Summit andState of Chio, have invented new and useful lmproveinents in Gageslnspecting Devices, ot which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to improvements in self-propelled vehicles employingl gasolene as a fuel, and more especially to that type of vehicle in which the supply of gasolene is contained in a. tank positioned below one of the seats of the vehicle.

The object of this invention is to provide a well or light-shaft in a convenient portion of the automobile immediately above the in.- dicator, used for showing the amount of gasolene contained in the tank, to make the servation to the user of t-he vehicle and also to render the placement of the indicating gage employed in a safe position to avoid the liability of danger attendant on the use of a volatile Huid such as gasolene.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts `constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereotl wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can bo resorted to which come within the scope ot' the claims hereunto appended.

The drawing presented is a perspective view of so much of a self-propelled vehicle as will clearl show the application ot my invention ant in operative connection therewith. As now constructed in a large number of instances the gasolene supply tault of. an automobile is positioned beneath the front seat of the car which is usually pri vided With a gage to indicate the amount of gasolene in the tank, the latter being usually positioned upon the frame work of the seat, and is, under normal conditions, covered by the cushions which must bey raised for reading the gage to thereby determine the quantity of gasolenc in the tank. The raising ot the cushions is more or less of a nuisance and at thc same time if the reading of the gage is needed in the l night-time an auxiliary light of some nature must he employed such as a match or a candle. neither ot' which may be readily obtainable. so that the duty of ascertaining the condition. ot the amount ot' gasolene, provided tor a prospective trip, is often neglected with, to say the least, inconvenient results.

It is therefore an especial object of this invention to provide means for ready access to the indicatingr gage of the gasolene tank, by positioning the indicating gage at a point where ready access can be had to the saine and position above the gage a light-shaft or well suitably covered and protected by a transparent medium through which the observer ma look in reading the gage without distnrl'iing his cushions or leaving his seat and at the saine time, as a necessity tor inspecting the condition ot the liquid tuel I employ a suitably controlled electric lamp,

vthe light of which is directed onto the tace ot the gage so as to properly illumine the same when desired, and 1 also provide a circuit-breaker t'or closing the circuit temporarily for lighting the lamp during the inspection.

ln view ot the foregoing the invention is clearly shown in the accompanying vdrawing wherein the references l, l denote `the cushions on the trout seat o't' an automobile, hehind which is the ordinary back and below which and supporting the cushions is the. traine worlir 23 ol the seat' over which extendsl a top i. Below the top t isy a` tanlt ot' any preferred construction containing a supply ot liquid tuel such as gasolene and connected with which is a gage, provided with an indicating tace 5 having thereon an indicator (i for indicatingl the amount ot gasolclne in the tank. rllhe indicating linger t3 is usually covered by a sheet of transparent; material such as glass suitably held in position by a traute work 7. This indicator is usually positibncd immediately below an arm or partition t5 which extends between and divides the front. seat ot the automobile into compartments. The dividing partition is hollowed out or provided with a light-slurtt or well 9 arranged imn'iediatcly above the upper tace ot the indicator (3' and the upperwall of the arm or partition tl is provided with an opening over which a. trame' it) coiitaining a` sheet electric lamp 12 provided with covered con-4 ducting Wires 13 running to a source of supu ply (not shown) an-d alsoto a push-button 14 constituting a circuit-breaker. rlhis circuit-breaker is usually positioned on the vfront Wall of the partition and is usually sunk so as 'not to be ordinarily operated unless desired.

In order to afford ready access to the interior of the well and alsoforthe purposes of cleaning and caring for the internal mechanism contained Within 'the well and above the indicator, I form the front and normally prominent portion of the partition of a single bent member 15 and hinge the same to the stationary portion of the arm or partition to permit the movable portionv to be shifted to permitlentrance to the Well, In order to hold the movable or hinged portion l5 of the arm :lixedly in its closed positionl provide a temporary locking device 16 secured'to the lower front portion ofthe partition or arm.

It will be noted that ifan inspection of the condition of the indicator is desired at any time the operator simply presses the circuit breaker 14 which lights the lamp 12 enabling him to look through the transparent sheet 11 contained in the frame 10 on the arm 8 land condition of the indicatorgage can be readily ascertained at any time irrespective of Whetheror not the inspection is made in the day or night.

. It will, of course, be obvious that instead of providing the Well in-'a central partition of the seat it may be placed in one of the side arms or in any other convenient or appropriate place, solong as it is positioned above the indicator on the top of the gasolene tank. l

I claim :u f

1. The combination with a self-propelled instrumentality, adapted to carry a tanlrfor a supplyl of fluid` fuel, of an indicator capable of indicating the quantity of fluid fuel in said tank with a suitable portion of said vvehicle positioned immediately over said indicator and provided With a Well or airshaft, of a transparent closure member for said air-shaft or well, a controllable lighting instrumentality positioned within said Well provided with means for'controlling the lightingr thereof7 a. hinge cover for said Well adapted to be shifted to permit entrance thereto land means for locking said hinge cover in position. n

2. The combination in va self-propelled vehicle adapted to carry a tank fora supply of fluid fuel and having a suitable portion of said vehicle projecting over said tank and provided With a light-shaft or Well therein, of an indicator for said tanlrpositioned :it the lower end of said well'or'sl1aft5'1a; parent member for said air-shaft trollable lighting instrumentality posil v Within said Well and .adapted to illuminate oiled.

the faceof said indicator, means for contrdlling said light, a hinge cover for-the Wellcontaining portion of said vehicle adapted to be shifted to permit entrance to said Well and means for locking said hinge cover in f position. y g

3. The combination in a self-propelled vehicle adapted to carry a tank for a .supply of iuid fuel and having a suitable portion of said vehicle projecting over said tank and provided With ra light-shaft or Well therein,

of an indicator for said tank positionedvat the lowerend of said well `or shaft., a transparent member for said light-shaft, a. controllable lighting instrumentality 'positionedy within said Well and adapted to illuminate the face/of said indicator, and means for controlling said light.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in witnesses VLLIAM F. WAARDEN. 1Witnesses C. E. HUMPHREY, A. L. McCLINrooit.

presence of tivo subscribing 

